Page 41 of The City Of Fractured Memory

He’s hiding something. I can feel it.

“So you do know something,” I whisper softly.

He meets my stare, unflinching. “I know that if someone is meddling with memories on that scale, they’re playing with forces that should have died with the Faceless God.”

The silence between us thickens. The air itself feels charged, like standing too close to lightning.

My patience snaps.

“You want me to believe you’re innocent? Then prove it.” I stand up abruptly and he mirrors me. I’m close enough to see the faint line of stubble along his jaw, but I refuse to back away. “Swear a blood oath that you had nothing to do with these murders.”

For the first time, Riven hesitates. But then, without a word, he draws a small blade from his belt, a slender, wicked thing of black steel. He presses it to his palm, slicing carefully, just deep enough for a few drops of blood to bead and fall onto the desk between us.

“I swear by my blood,” he says, his voice low and steady, “and by the forces that bind me, I am not responsible for the deaths of those seers. May the Voyd take me if it deems my word false.”

A faint, glimmering aura of magic swirls in the air at his words, our hair rippling on an invisible wind.

Then the room goes utterly still.

The candle flames don’t even flicker. The air doesn’t shift. Then, as quick as it came, the magic dissipates, and we both inhale a sharp breath.

The oath has held, which means he has to be telling the truth.

And for some reason I can’t quite understand, that frightens me more than if he’d been lying.

Twenty

The door groans open with a hollow clang, the scent of rust and damp stone clinging to the air like a warning as I re-enter the cell block. Two wardens flank me as I step inside, their torches throwing long, warped shadows across the narrow corridor. Xavier and Stryx are sat against the far wall, both rising anxiously as I appear.

“You’re okay? What happened?” Xavier demands, brushing the dust from his coat as one of the wardens fumbles with the lock. “I was starting to think–”

“I’m fine,” I insist, but I don’t miss the slight narrowing of his eyes at that.

Stryx’s azure eyes flick towards me, sharp and searching. “You were gone for a while,” she says softly. “I was worried. We both were.”

I don’t meet her gaze. “Riven decided to let us go,” I say, my voice flat. “Said it’s a favour to the Chief. But he made it clear that if we’re caught stirring up trouble in Aethermere again, there’ll be…consequences. Severe ones.”

Xavier steps forward, his boots echoing off the stone floor. “That’s it?” His tone is low, edged with disbelief. “You expect me to believe he just changed his mind? After everything he’s done to me? The Governor of Aethermere doesn’t do favours, Octavia.”

“I told you what he said,” I reply, folding my arms, every muscle taut with the effort of keeping my expression neutral. “Believe it or don’t. It’s done.”

He takes another step closer, the torchlight glinting off his eyes. “What else did you talk about?”

“Nothing,” I say too quickly.

Xavier’s jaw flexes, hurt flashing in his eyes. “Don’t lie to me. He’s not the type to let anyone walk free without getting something in return. You know what he’s done–”

“Yes, I’m more than aware Xavier,” I hiss, meeting his stare, unwavering. “If you think I’m keeping secrets, then you don’t know me as well as you think you do.”

Silence presses heavily between us. Stryx shifts uneasily while the wardens exchange looks, clearly eager to be away from the three of us.

Finally, Xavier exhales and looks away, muttering something under his breath.

“Come on,” I say firmly, turning toward the stairs that wind up to the surface. “We’ve wasted enough time. The longer we stay in his quarter, the more we’re dancing on a knife’s edge. Riven will get his due, but not today. Today we walk away with our lives and be damn thankful for it.”

As we climb, I feel Xavier’s eyes on my back, suspicious and calculating.

Or maybe I’m just being paranoid.